In CDCโs backyard, school reopening debate divides experts
One emergency medicine doctor said initial reopening plans for the district's 5,000-plus students werenโt safe enough. โAnd thatโs what I, and Iโm sure other superintendents, have been struggling with.โEach side argued data and science supported their view in a debate over reopening schools that sometimes veered into vitriol. Without specific reopening instructions from federal and state leaders, school administrators have had to become amateur epidemiologists, Dude said. Around Decatur, neighbors dodged the issue in polite conversation as tensions rose during school board meetings and on social media. She didn't feel the district's reopening plans were safe or equitable, particularly for the most vulnerable students, but the increasing incivility troubled her, too.
DFW Football: 4A/3A Area Thursday Quick Looks
We're into the second round of the classes 4A and under playoffs march to State. For the second straight week, the big schools (6A and 5A) take a back seat to the quick looks until their respective playoffs start as we peak at the three matchups in 4A featuring DFW-area teams on Thursday. Bo is gone, but CJ Rogers is just as competent and Tito Byce and company return for a run at state. Gilmer is on a six-game win streak with an average win margin of 32 points. Godley has been equally-impressive in its four-game win streak with a win margin of 32.5 points.
Four Dallas-area Teams with the best shot at winning a UIL 2020-2021 Volleyball State Championship Title
2A - Crawford (33-3, 14-0, 91.2% win percentage)Crawford won the 2A 2019 UIL Volleyball State title after a clean sweep over Jewett Leon (25-19, 25-20, 25-20). Crawford posted an undefeated district record of 14-0 with an overall record of 33-3. The Pirates are looking ahead towards what could be their second straight state title. In 2019, the Wildcats lost to Lamar Fulshear (25-14, 25-11, 25-20) who went on to claim the state title. After defeating Canyon Randall (27-25, 25-17, 25-15) in the 2019 state championship game, Lucas Lovejoy is looking like they are seriously strong contenders for the 2020 state title.
DFW Hoops: 4A Boys/Girls Preseason Rankings
It's that time of year when volleyball playoffs are in full swing, football playoffs are about to get underway and the boys and girls hoops' seasons are set to tip off. This week, we'll provide the Top 10 Preseason Power Rankings for class 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and private schools. BOYSRANK TEAM 2019-20 RECORD* FINISH 1 Argyle 26-4 State Semifinals** 2 Oak Cliff Faith Family 24-13 State Semifinals** 3 Dallas Carter 29-8 Regional Semifinals 4 Decatur 27-9 Regional Quarterfinals 5 Dallas Lincoln 15-15 Regional Quarterfinals 6 Fort Worth Dunbar 9-10 Area 7 Celina 27-7 Regional Quarterfinals 8 Alvarado 29-7 Bi-District 9 Krum 22-15 Regional Quarterfinals 10 Kennedale 26-10 Area*based on MaxPreps.com | **2020 playoffs did not finish because of COVID-19GIRLSRANK TEAM 2019-20 RECORD* FINISH 1 Argyle 31-9 State Finalist 2 Dallas Lincoln 28-11 State Semifinals 3 Melissa 21-11 Regional Finals 4 Sunnyvale 28-7 Regional Quarterfinals 5 Dallas Pinkston 27-7 Regional Quarterfinals 6 Decatur 24-13 Regional Quarterfinals 7 Krum 20-14 Bi-District 8 Aubrey 21-7 Regional Quarterfinals 9 Midlothian Heritage 20-9 Bi-District 10 Sanger 23-10 Bi-District*based on MaxPreps.com
Decatur Flies Alone in 4A Regional Semifinals
Three rounds down in the UIL high school volleyball playoffs, and only one team in the DFW area remains: Decatur, which just so happens to ranked No. But after fending off a pesky challenger in the regional quarterfinals against Argyle - the third sweep this season against the long-time rivals - Decatur goes up against No. Decatur is looking to advance and get to the state tournament since winning it all back in 2018. In a bit of irony, Decatur's head coach, Catherine Foerster, just so happened to coach Hereford to state last year. Decatur and Hereford square off at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night in Childress.
Zeta's toll on a Louisiana island: 'Like a bomb was dropped'
A camping trailer by a neighboring camp has been damaged by Hurricane Zeta in Grand Isle, La., Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. It hit hard on Grand Isle, a popular waterside getaway and recreational fishing destination. โThat thing just souped up and kicked all of our butts, especially the levee,โ said Lan Tivet, a member of the Grand Isle town council. It's been an especially active season in Louisiana, hit so far by two tropical storms and three hurricanes, including Laura, which devastated southwestern Louisiana in August. โWe're so close to the end of hurricane season that we can't jeopardize โ just start a project sooner โ it's not an option," she said.
NTSB investigating crash that killed school bus driver, girl
DECATUR, Tenn. โ Federal and state authorities on Wednesday investigated a crash between a school bus carrying 24 children and a utility vehicle that killed the bus driver and a 7-year-old girl in eastern Tennessee. Eight other children were injured when the utility vehicle and the bus collided on state Highway 58 in Meigs County on Tuesday afternoon, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a preliminary report. The bus driver, Lisa Dillard, 53, was killed, the highway patrol said. The girl who was killed was not immediately identified by the highway patrol. Meigs County Schools said several students were treated and released at hospitals.
Suit: Atlanta area housing site illegally evicted residents
The entrance to Efficiency Lodge is shown on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020 in Decatur, Ga. Some of the residents, along with members of the Atlanta-area Housing Justice League, staged a protest across the street from the Efficiency Lodge, alleging that residents are being evicted despite substandard living conditions. About two dozen former residents of the Efficiency Lodge in DeKalb County and others demonstrated Wednesday across from the suburban Atlanta complex. A man who answered the phone at another number for Efficiency Lodge hung up. Efficiency Lodge has more than a dozen properties in Georgia and Florida and offers โcost-efficient accommodations," according to its website.
Week 1 Preview: #10 Decatur vs. #2 Argyle
It's been three years since these two foes have faced off with Argyle dominating Decatur 62-21 back when both schools were in 4-4A DI. Previewing DecaturThe Eagles of Decatur roll into the season opener with a lot of question marks on offense after losing its nine main contributors from a season ago. Decatur racked up more than 6,418 yards on offense on the way to a 12-1 finish and getting into the third round of the playoffs. But it's hard to overstate the level of skill returning to Argyle against the level for Decatur - a known quantity vs. uncertainty. That can be seen here: https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/dfwvarsity/pr...My picks for Week 1 are bolded below:Bushland vs BrockBenbrook vs China SpringMcGregor vs Lake WorthSpringtown vs Glen RoseWichita Falls Hirschi vs Midlothian HeritageDecatur vs ArgyleWaxahachie Life vs GodleyGraham vs AlvaradoBurkburnett vs AubreyPeaster vs Venus
UIL Will Not Award Lone Star Cup, Releases Final Standings
AUSTIN, Texas The University Interscholastic League (UIL) has released standings for the Lone Star Cup through March 13, 2020. Due to the cancellation of UIL spring events, the Lone Star Cup will not be awarded for the 2019-20 school year. As a result, many activities that earn points toward the UIL Lone Star Cup were not completed. The UIL Lone Star Cup recognizes the top high school in each UIL conference based on overall team achievement in sanctioned academic, athletic and music championships. Below are the Top 25 UIL Lone Star Cup standings for the 2019-20 school year.
UIL Will Not Award Lone Star Cup, Releases Final Standings
AUSTIN, Texas The University Interscholastic League (UIL) has released standings for the Lone Star Cup through March 13, 2020. Due to the cancellation of UIL spring events, the Lone Star Cup will not be awarded for the 2019-20 school year. As a result, many activities that earn points toward the UIL Lone Star Cup were not completed. The UIL Lone Star Cup recognizes the top high school in each UIL conference based on overall team achievement in sanctioned academic, athletic and music championships. Below are the Top 25 UIL Lone Star Cup standings for the 2019-20 school year.
Confederate obelisk removed from Georgia square amid cheers
Workers remove a Confederate monument with a crane Thursday, June 18, 2020, in Decatur, Ga. The 30-foot obelisk in Decatur Square, erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1908, was ordered by a judge to be removed and placed into storage indefinitely. The stone obelisk was lifted from its base with straps amid jeers and chants of Just drop it! from onlookers in Decatur, Georgia, who were kept a safe distance by sheriffs deputies. DeKalb County Judge Clarence Seeliger agreed, and ordered the 30-foot (9-meter) obelisk in Decatur Square to be removed by midnight June 26 and placed in storage indefinitely. DeKalb County spent several years trying to rid itself of the Lost Cause monument erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1908.